Posts by Brian Gray5

mistybison said:Not anymore. 🙂

I can't even idealize someone online anymore, let alone in person. 🙂

It feels like I'll never fall in love again. 🙂

I truly envy those who never lose that ability. 😠 😁

Oh, bravo. You aren't being immature.

Now just go find yourself an online hookup, like any other perfectly functional, grown woman would. 😁

ironrider11 said:Ugh, what a dream... pure bliss. Just 100% pure love for absolutely everything and everyone, floating on that lovely, irresistible scent of gum disease and spit mixed with chlamydia, mycoplasma, trichomonas, BV, gonorrhea, HPV, and syphilis... just the sweet smell of pus and bloody discharge after some non-stop, animalistic, all-day, all-night sex between two people where you can't even tell who is who... life and death. Any kind of idealization about anyone or anything is just impossible. Such an unbearable ease of existence...

“They don't know the terrors that go through your mind as you lie there in the pit waiting for a hint of light to tell you that the night is over.”

Someone is down in the Mariana Trench, or maybe just stuck in some deep, bottomless pothole in the middle of nowhere.

Austin Murphy5 said:🤣🤣🤣

The staircase was a metaphor—😁 😁
It wasn't actually about a physical staircase—I won't go into the exact details here 😁 Basically, he had certain tendencies that triggered a genuine phobia of mine, and for me, that’s an absolute dealbreaker. I used the staircase analogy because my fear is similar to acrophobia—you know, that deep-seated dread of heights—which isn't something you just "get over" overnight.

And just to clarify, I didn't exactly "break up" with him—I never really committed to anything in the first place. He was intense physically, sure, but I don't feel like I missed out on much.
I still run into him occasionally—what's done is done, and frankly, I don't feel any lingering emotions or even a flicker of tension when he's around.

Yeah, I see.
I’ve always been a fan of that old saying: "If you want to know what’s hiding in the canopy, you’ve gotta shake the trunk first." 😉
Some things just need a light tap to move. Others? You’re gonna need an excavator for those. 😬

Austin Murphy5 said:🤣🤣🤣

The staircase was a metaphor—😁 😁
It wasn't actually about a physical staircase—I won't go into the exact details here 😁 Basically, he had certain tendencies that triggered a genuine phobia of mine, and for me, that’s an absolute dealbreaker. I used the staircase analogy because my fear is similar to acrophobia—you know, that deep-seated dread of heights—which isn't something you just "get over" overnight.

And just to clarify, I didn't exactly "break up" with him—I never really committed to anything in the first place. He was intense physically, sure, but I don't feel like I missed out on much.
I still run into him occasionally—what's done is done, and frankly, I don't feel any lingering emotions or even a flicker of tension when he's around.

Austin Murphy5 said:I honestly don't see why you're being so hard on yourself... Is it really such a crime to decide not to date someone who—let's say—is a smoker, when you already know deep down that it’s going to be a massive dealbreaker for you in the long run? It’s just that at the very beginning, because the physical attraction is so intense, you convince yourself that you can somehow just overlook it.
From my perspective, this isn't about ignoring "love" or any other sentimental nonsense—it's actually just plain old rational thinking and self-control. Would it really be any better if I jumped into a relationship with someone just because I was caught up in the moment, only to end up resentful later and constantly nagging them to change for my sake? Especially since the thing I want them to change is something I knew from day one.
To me, that approach is just plain foolish—deciding "okay, this isn't the right match for me" right from the start is much more sensible.

Honestly, I’d say you handled that with an incredibly rare level of rationality. Most people just lose their minds, obsessing over their crushes or some idealized version of someone they're lusting after—usually followed by a massive crying session once reality hits. You actually kept your head on straight.

Ever heard of hybristophilia? Standard psychology just labels it as a paraphilia without really digging into why the brain works that way. But if you look at evolutionary psychology, there’s a different angle: it suggests a specific female drive toward men with antisocial traits. The idea is that women might subconsciously identify these "outlaw" types as alpha males—carriers of those rugged, dominant genes that are supposedly great for offspring, even if they're social disasters.
There are actually studies showing how female prison staff—guards, cooks, cleaners, even psychologists—often form intense emotional bonds with the most notorious inmates. They end up helping them with illegal schemes or even getting caught up in their business. Honestly, the history books are full of cases where serial killers get hit on by obsessed fans, sometimes even marrying them behind bars, only for it to turn out the women fit the victim profile perfectly. It reminds me of that old recording of little Lorena talking about her crush on Daruvarac, before that whole sink explosion mess happened...
At its core, it’s all just extreme idealization.

On a different note, though, I think it’s a bit egocentric to walk away from a relationship just because of trivial stuff like someone smoking or blasting heavy metal. If two people are truly hooked, those things are easy enough to negotiate. I really hope you bailed on your candidate because of something much more serious—like, say, the guy suffocates cats in his apartment, or he has a framed poster of Oprah Winfrey on his wall... 😍

Austin Murphy5 said:Well, certainly not to the extreme degree you're describing, but yes—I’ve definitely had moments where I got completely swept up and ignored all those red flags that I KNEW would become massive issues later in a relationship. It's a tricky thing. I used to worry that this would happen with my husband, but as it turns out, it hasn't—his flaws clearly aren't dealbreakers for me.

But there were times when I was just... well, stupid... I don't have a better word for it.
I once fell for a guy who had certain things in his house that triggered a major phobia of mine. Let's just say he had a spiral staircase with no railing 😁 Basically, something I have spent my entire life panicking about and avoiding at all costs.
He was so captivating that I actually managed to rationalize it to myself—convincing myself it wasn't such a big deal and that I could handle being in his apartment. But deep down, I knew I couldn't. I knew that after three or four times—once we actually got intimate and he started showing his more human, vulnerable side—that staircase 😁 would become a massive obstacle, and I wouldn't want to visit him anymore.

Luckily, I snapped out of it pretty quickly and cut all ties before he even realized I was harboring any sort of "feelings."

I am reading this and I honestly cannot believe my eyes.😲
He was hot, sure, but you dumped him because he might eventually show some personality AND because of a staircase without a handrail??

Good God, seriously? If your definition of sexism is just some meathead shouting about a girl’s anatomy at a local dive bar, then you’re missing the point entirely. Where on earth did you get this ridiculous idea that sexism actually has anything to do with how women are perceived within a patriarchal society? Is that how it works now, Boeing?

It’s all just pure idealization, starting from that very first moment you open your eyes and see your sweet mother through an objective lens, right down to the point where you start putting together those little DIY gifts for Mother's Day...
It’s even more intense in romantic relationships—that moment you catch a glimpse of a dazzling smile or notice a particularly impressive silhouette under their clothes. Sometimes this rose-colored glasses phase lasts twenty years into a marriage, and sometimes it ends abruptly while you're washing your hands in some local diner restroom...

The real question is: why do we do it?
Not that I actually expect anyone here to come up with any real answers 😁

Anyway, I'm sure ironrider11 will jump in to lecture us on the semantic philosophy of psychology, acting like anyone besides himself actually finds that stuff interesting 😍

crimsonhound422 said:What seems hollow to you might be everything to someone else. We all have our own "technologies"—some people stick to the basics, while others dive into much weirder stuff.
If that's what makes him happy, let him have it. It’s easy for him to just swap out a partner; if his current one breaks, he can just order a new one online.

Perhaps the hardest thing of all is simply being human and trying to love another human being—with all the flaws, virtues, and unpredictable free will that come with it. That’s bound to be much more painful than "loving" a doll or a robot. Maybe that’s exactly why they pour so much money into technology—because unlike a person, a machine won't disappoint you unless it physically malfunctions.

I'm right there with you on this one. 👍
If anything, I’d go a step further: that’s exactly why people are starting to wish they were robots... or zombies instead.

I know a woman who got so incredibly fed up with her comfortable, secure little life that she ended up liquidating every single asset she owned just to run off to Cuba. Now she’s out there trying to rub elbows with the local underground scene, with absolutely zero plan for how she’s going to afford a meal tomorrow.
She used to be quite the fixture around here, running life coaching workshops and marriage counseling sessions—she actually had a decent reputation and was pretty well-regarded in our community. 🤣

Daniel Chase13 said:Trump

SENSATIONAL: NASA just released a 'selfie' from outer space!

🤣

So, therefore Trump discovered that idiots are actually stupid? What exactly makes him such an outlier here?
Is it because I’m rambling about some New Jersey nonsense regarding Flat Earth theories, conspiracies he can't wrap his head around, or his crusade against actual science?
And why are you so terrified of replying to me? Scared of looking like a fool? Honestly, don't worry about that—you've already done plenty of that work yourself. ☕

Lisa Jackson7 said:Man, those Pentecostals... shabba yabba dabba doo... 😁

Look, they—at least the ones in the room—are just projecting their own story onto Trump. To them, he’s been "born again," guided by a biblical David or whatever... even if his actual behavior gives them absolutely zero reason to believe that. It doesn't matter to them.

But let's not kid ourselves—they aren't the only type of people voting for him. Basically, any "globalization loser" in the USA is a potential Trump voter.

Exactly. The casualties of capitalism. They’ve basically decided that what they need is the most aggressive, "macho" version of the most hyper-capitalist option on the menu. 🤣

Daniel Chase13 said:Trump is constantly working on

What exactly is he doing? Building houses? Planting lettuce? Or maybe he’s just out there starving himself for the cause?

Lisa Jackson7 said:Can someone actually explain why Elvis Presley is such a massive threat to society?

I mean, there are way more dangerous lies floating around the public square anyway.

And while we’re on the subject, what’s your take on the typical profile of Trump's voters?

Honestly, those ultra-conservative, clerical-fascist circles right here at home just pull stuff like that out of thin air. ☕

Henry Garcia13 said:If there’s any silver lining here, it’s that Mexican and Albanian nationalists actually manage to get on the same page whenever they need to take a shot at North Mexicans

So, since when did a bunch of nationalists finding common ground become your problem? 🤷

wearyowl29 said:It’s just such a massive drain on everyone's time, energy, and sheer willpower to focus on something this bizarrely useless.
Honestly, we’d probably get much better results just tending to a flock of sheep or goats instead...🙏

And what about it? Obsessing over nonsense is still obsessing over nonsense... 🤷

electricdriver33 said:Someone’s obviously paying him, given how much energy he pours into this stuff. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they're just fundamentalist Protestants from the Belt of Belshazzar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborator😈uropeus/sandbox

The guy thinks he's doing actual science. At this rate, I wouldn't be shocked if he claimed to have invented a perpetual motion machine next.
🍿

Betty Fowler said:True, but at the end of the day, we're still just talking about theoretical models. 🙂

🤔
Did you mean "terrorizing," or were you actually going for "theorizing"?
Honestly, I can't seem to get rid of my chocolate stash. I've bought up pounds upon pounds of the stuff, and looking at it is starting to mess with my head. 🤷
Then again, it’s kind of a confidence booster when you can casually hoist a 100-pound bag of dog food or wrestle a 200-pound hog into place without breaking a sweat.

🤔
Is this thread actually meant to be an ad for Duspara, or are we here to critique him?

The Banach-Tarski paradox is basically a mathematical fever dream that messes with your head. 😳

It’s honestly a bit ridiculous—I can’t seem to finish just one single chocolate bar, and believe me, I actually try.

Daniel Chase13 said:Elvis Presley doesn't waste any time—here is his latest video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDn1...II4OFSbCFX5mlI

🙄
Here’s one for you too